2012+SCHEER+v.+INDEPENDENT+SCHOOL+DISTRICT+NO+26+OF+OTTAWA+COUNTY

Ashley Collins Megan Debo

September 23, 1997
 * SCHEER v. INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO 26 OF OTTAWA COUNTY OKLAHOMA**


 * Background: **  Connie Scheer signed a “Temporary Certified Employee Contract” for her fourth year of teaching near the end of her third year as a “probationary teacher” for the Afton School District. The temporary contract was offered for her to improve her teaching and by signing, she agreed that she was not entitled to any continuing contract that provided employment during the following school years. At the end of the contract, she was not offered a new one and filed suit for breach of contract and loss of employment after not receiving due process.


 * Decision:   ** The court decided that teachers under temporary contract do not are exempt from tenure laws. Because Scheer was only employed under the temporary contract she did not gain tenure by working that fourth year.


 * Implication: ** This case is important for future teachers because there are many different kinds of contracts each school has when teachers start their employment. It is our job to pay attention to not only the different kinds of contracts the specific school we are applying for has but also all the small details of each contract agreement. Upon signing a temporary contract, when it is over, we need to be ready for what comes next. If the contract isn’t renewed, we need to know the next precautions that need to be taken.


 * Question: ** Do teachers gain tenure when under a temporary contract?